A bride garter is also an easy place to hide your something blue. A powder-blue ribbon, a blue stone set into the lace, a navy bow with a charm: the blue lives against your leg where only you (and one lucky groom) know it’s there. About half the garters below pull double duty this way, which is a tidy answer for a something blue wedding when you’d rather skip blue shoes or a blue bouquet.
Some brides go heirloom, some go lace and pearls, and at least one went full Batman. Whether you want something classic, something blue, or something nobody will expect, we gathered our favorite garters from real L&L weddings to get you started. Click any link to see the full wedding it belonged to, and for more, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Our Favorite Wedding Garters
First up: garters spotted on real L&L weddings, from barely-there ribbon to a full vintage cameo. Click any link to see the whole day it came from. Scroll further for shoppable options.
Crystal-Beaded Garter
This is the garter mid-prep, going on over a nude pointed flat while the dress is still bunched at the knee. It’s a slim band of rhinestones and pale lace, the kind that disappears under a gown until the toss.
Kristin got dressed for her Hilton Head Island wedding before anyone saw a thing.
See Kristin and Alex’s Hilton Head Island Wedding →
Simple White Ribbon Garter
Here’s the removal, out on the rocks at Victoria Beach with the surf going. The garter is stripped all the way down: one thin white ribbon, no lace, no jewels.
On a windswept beach shoot in a ruffled mermaid gown, that restraint is the right call.
See this Paper Anniversary Beach Shoot →
Sheer Lace Garter
Someone’s helping with the last step here, easing a sheer scalloped-lace garter up past the knee while the dress hem waits. It’s barely-there lace, more suggestion than statement.
That softness suits the lavender-and-gray palette Britanni built her Pittsburgh day around.
See Britanni and Jared’s Pittsburgh Wedding →
Floral-Appliqué Lace Garter
Worn, not staged: this white lace garter sits high on the thigh with raised fabric flowers stitched across the front, the bride’s stacked diamond ring resting just above.
The dimensional blooms echo the woodland-styled shoot it came from at First Landing State Park.
See this Whimsical Woodland Styled Shoot →
Navy Garter with a Silver Anchor
Nautical without tipping into costume. Navy satin over white, a crisp bow, and a little silver anchor charm right at the center, photographed on netting because the whole wedding happened aboard a ship.
If you want your something blue to read as blue, navy ribbon does it.
See Elizabeth and Brandon’s Cruise Ship Wedding →
Powder-Blue Jeweled Garter
Laid out with the glitter pumps and the crystal clutch, this powder-blue garter reads as jewelry more than lingerie. A rhinestone appliqué runs across the front of the soft blue lace band, so the something blue and the sparkle arrive in one piece.
Brittany’s Palm Harbor day leaned classic and a little glam, and this fits right in.
See Brittany and Will’s Palm Harbor Wedding →
Blue-Gem Lace Garter
A toss piece and a keeper, both white lace, both built around a single bright blue stone framed in rhinestones. The pair means one comes off at the reception and one stays a souvenir.
Against the dark marble at St. Clement’s Castle, the blue is the only color in the shot, which is the whole idea of a something blue.
See Emily and Brian’s Castle Wedding →
Navy-and-White Ribbon Garter
Propped against a pair of white-embroidered cowboy boots, this navy-and-white garter brings a country note to a Colorado golf-club wedding. The navy band carries a run of small white fabric flowers, casual enough to match the boots and still count as the blue.
Kelly styled it with the boots on purpose.
See Kelly and Dan’s Colorado Wedding →
Lace Garter with a Blue Bow
A classic take on something blue: white lace, a small powder-blue satin bow, a pearl-and-rhinestone button holding the center. It’s photographed on the veil, all soft and churchy.
That tracks for a classic Episcopal ceremony in Fairhope. Nothing loud, nothing trendy.
See Caroline and Jonathan’s Alabama Wedding →
Turquoise-Ribbon Lace Garter
Turquoise instead of the usual pale blue, which gives this white lace garter a bit more color to work with. Styled next to the letterpress invitations and the crystal peep-toes, it pulls the getting-ready details together.
Lisa’s Pensacola wedding kept things traditional, and the turquoise ribbon adds the one real pop of color.
See Lisa and Brandon’s Pensacola Wedding →
Vintage Cameo Garter
The showpiece here is the brooch: an antique brass-framed cameo, an ivory figure carved against a deep blue ground, pinned to a soft white lace-and-tulle garter. It’s the something old and the something blue in one heirloom-looking piece.
On a blush spring wedding at The Milestone, it adds a little weight and history to all the pale lace.
See Kailey and Garrett’s Texas Wedding →
Ivory Floral-Lace Garter
Styled on a swath of mauve with the crystal sandals and pearl drops, this ivory garter keeps it soft: a band of floral lace finished with a small satin bow. No blue on this one, just texture.
It suits the bohemian, vintage feeling Victoria went for at Blackwater Lodge.
See Victoria and Dylan’s Blackwater Lodge Wedding →
Lace Garter with Gold Charms
This blush lace garter goes gold instead of blue, with two little gold charms hanging off the front. Photographed with the taupe suede heels and the gold filigree hair comb, it’s part of a warm accessory story rather than a standalone piece.
Sandra’s Appleton wedding worked in soft gray and pink around it.
See Sandra and Neil’s Wisconsin Wedding →
Ivory Garter with Fabric Flowers
Look closely and there are a few small blue beads tucked into the raised fabric flowers, a quiet something blue hiding in an otherwise ivory garter. Set next to the blush-rose bouquet, it’s all texture and softness.
It fits the rustic-chic barn wedding Kendal and Jesse had at Stone Bridge Farms.
See Kendal and Jesse’s Alabama Wedding →
Batman Garter
And now for something completely different. Thera wore a Batman garter, navy and gold organza with the bat logo front and center and a tiny silver spider charm off the ribbon. It matched her Batman sneakers, part of a whole superhero-shoe theme built around the couple’s ongoing Batman-versus-Superman debate.
Consider it proof that the garter is the one accessory where you can be as ridiculous as you want.
See Sam and Thera’s Superhero Wedding →
Soft Organza Garter
Shot up close, this one is all soft edges: ivory satin under a layer of sheer organza, a wispy ribbon bow, one small rhinestone at the center. It’s the plain, pretty garter that goes with anything, no theme required.
Frances Marie and Nick saved the Star Wars flourishes for the rest of their Pensacola Yacht Club day.
See Frances Marie and Nick’s Yacht Club Wedding →
Burgundy And Ivory Lace Garter Set
Bellarosa Garters makes this Burgundy and Ivory Lace Garter Set by hand in Montana, using wine satin and delicate ivory lace finished with a twine bow and a small pearl. The details are quiet on purpose, and they’re better for it.
The set stretches for a comfortable fit without losing its shape, and a personalized ribbon option is available if you want something a little more bespoke. It works as a something-blue stand-in, a keepsake, or simply the one detail the bride actually gets to keep. Small-batch, thoughtfully made, and priced like it.
Custom Embroidered Lace Garter
This Custom Embroidered Lace Garter Set from Snugahug comes as a pair: one embroidered main garter and one toss garter with “nice catch” stitched on it. Both are handmade from 2.5-inch wide stretchy lace, so they sit comfortably without digging in. Colors run from classic white and soft pink to a bolder teal, with enough options in between to match most wedding palettes.
Personalization is the point here. The embroidery is done to order, which also means these are non-returnable, so double-check your details before you buy. If you want a garter that actually reflects something about you rather than a generic satin loop from a bridal shop, this is a reasonable place to land.
Handcrafted Cinderella Garter Set
The Handcrafted Cinderella Garter Set from Bellarosa Garters, a small Montana-based business, is a two-piece set made from organza and lace in light baby blue and ivory. Rhinestones and a charm add sparkle at the hem, and every set is stitched by hand. Personalization is available, so it can pull double duty as a bride’s “something blue” and a keepsake with her name or wedding date on it.
It’s a solid bridal shower gift if you want something a little more personal than a registry pick, and it works just as well bought for yourself. Bellarosa keeps the construction careful and the details small-scale, which is exactly what you want when something this close to the dress is going to catch the light.
Personalized Royal Blue Bridal Garter
This personalized royal blue bridal garter set is handmade in Boca Raton, Florida, from a blend of 60% polyester and 40% spandex. The stretch lace has a non-slip silicone lining that keeps it in place, and the set comes in sizes from small to plus. The keepsake garter runs about 2 inches wide; the toss garter is a slimmer 1 inch.
You can choose from over 25 thread colors to add personalized embroidery. The craftsmanship is precise, the fit is reliable, and the whole thing is made to order, so these are non-returnable. If you want a garter that actually does its job and looks good doing it, this one delivers.
Silver And Black Biker Garter
Bellarosa Garters makes this one in gray, silver, and black lace and satin, and it’s clearly built for the bride whose wedding car has handlebars. The Silver and Black Biker Garter is handcrafted in Montana by a small business, one-size-fits-most, and ships quickly, which matters when the to-do list is already a mile long.
As a wedding gift, it works well for the bride who’d rather arrive on a Harley than in a town car. The lace-and-satin mix keeps it bridal without softening the edge, and the gray-silver-black palette does the rest. Expect a few second looks, dress hem or not.
Something Blue Sixpence Brooch
A handcrafted sixpence brooch with a sentimental quote engraved on the back: “Today a bride, tomorrow a wife, forever your little girl, love Mom & Dad.” It’s a classic something-blue gift from parents, small enough to tuck into a bouquet, pin to a garter, or attach to a corsage without fuss.
It arrives in a blue velvet pouch, so there’s no scrambling for a gift box. The packaging is part of the gift, and the brooch itself is the kind of keepsake a bride will actually hold onto long after the reception ends.
You’re Next Navy Garter
This custom navy blue garter set from Ella Winston is handcrafted in Texas and sized to your exact thigh measurement, so the fit is right rather than approximate. The lace has a classic floral pattern, and the ribbons can be embroidered with your names and wedding date.
It works as your “something blue” and arrives in a luxury gift box, which makes it a solid pick for a bridal shower or engagement gift. Ella Winston is a small Texas business, and the whole thing is made to order.
FAQs
What is a wedding garter for?
Two jobs, really. It’s a spot to slip in your something blue where nobody but you knows it’s there, and it’s the prop for the garter toss, when the groom retrieves it and sends it out to the single guys at the reception. Some brides wear two: a fancy keeper and a plain one to toss.
Which leg does the garter go on?
Whichever you like. Tradition leans toward the right leg, worn a few inches above the knee so it’s easy to reach during the toss. If you’re wearing two, the toss garter sits lower and the keepsake goes higher up.
Do I need two garters?
No, but plenty of brides do it. One gets tossed and vanishes into the crowd, the other stays a keepsake. If you’ve got a garter you love, an heirloom, a beaded one, a something-blue piece, a cheap second garter saves it from getting launched across the dance floor.
How do I add something blue with a garter?
A garter is a simple way to work it in. A blue bow, a blue ribbon band, a blue stone in the appliqué, even a few blue beads stitched into the lace. It sits against your leg all day, hidden under the dress, so you get the tradition without committing to blue shoes or a blue bouquet.
Is the garter toss still a thing?
Some couples keep it, some skip it, plenty land somewhere in between. If the toss feels dated to you, you can still wear the garter for the something-blue part and just leave it on. Nobody’s checking.
